This Blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Some posters are court ordered to have no contact of any kind with the person having a Restraining Order against them. Meaning no third party contact as well. If you by chance know a person one of our posters/authors is discussing to share their experiences with others, we ask you to respect our rights to free speech, under the United States Constitution. Restraining Order Blog is not meant to harass, directly or indirectly contact, harm, intimidate, bring any emotional distress, stalk or cyberstalk, nor intentionally slander or damage any individual in any way. Nor is it intended to initiate any third party contact on behalf of any poster or author, or violate a current restraining order in any way either. If you feel there is anything here that is slanderous, untrue, or illegal, please bring it to our attention. We will examine your request promptly, and any post you find offensive will be reviewed for removal in a timely manner. If you have a story to share, email me at ka7niq@yahoo.com, and I will add you as an author on Restraining Order Blog.

5/17/2010

An anesthesiologist who had previously worked with a group of Clearwater-based physicians was arrested Nov. 12 for aggravated stalking.

According to Belleair police Chief Tom Edwards, 46-year-old Doctor Benjamin Sanchez of Tampa violated civil and criminal court injunctions when he placed phone calls to one of the doctors at work and to his home. According to Edwards, domestic violence injunctions for protection against Sanchez were issued in 2006 and again in 2008. Sanchez had been ordered to stay 500 feet away from the complainants home, and to have no contact with them.

Tampa police officers arrested Sanchez at his Hillsborough County home on Nov. 12 on an arrest warrant from Pinellas County. Police Lt. Bill Sohl and Detective James Howard were present when Sanchez was arrested and taken into custody.

According to Hillsborough County jail records, he was released the following day on cash bond.

5/07/2010

Examples of how Restraining Orders in Hillsborough County Florida are abused

Probably the best way to illustrate how Restraining Orders in Hillsborough County Florida are abused is to present what a domestic violence victims assistance advocate has told us:

• I have witnessed Restraining Orders in Hillsborough County issued just because a family member gave another family member "a dirty look"

• I am also seeing law enforcement officers seeking Restraining Orders just to get the girlfriend exited from the shared living space, or simply out of their life.

• I also observe real abusers turning the domestic violence system on their victims by getting the Restraining Order first.

• The consistent percentage of domestic violence plaintiffs by male/ female is 22% male 78% female. Men also abuse the domestic violence system as well.

• One of my memorable cases was a woman who had filed a Restraining Order in Hillsborough County against a law enforcement officer. They had a history of drama .

When I interviewed her she played the victim role well. The defendant brought an attorney with him, the victims demanded $5,000 to drop the restraining orders. She also wanted additional money awarded if he ever contacted her again. The Restraining Order in Hillsborough County was dropped by the plaintiff. I am not aware of any dollars exchanging hands.

About a year later, the same woman was in a nearby county with a different defendant she had a Restraining Order against, and she dropped it as well.

The victim advocate also stated that if the courts reduced the number of restraining orders issued it would reduce the abuse.

Ex Tampa Bay Buccaneer Warren Sapp was arrested and charged with domestic violence in Miami the night before the Super Bowl. Miami-Dade State Attorneys have decided not to pursue domestic violence charges due to video obtained in the case and inconsistent statements from the victim. According to the Associated Press, Sapp was facing one count of misdemeanor domestic violence.

Warren Sapp was arrested by Miami Beach police February 6 for domestic violence.
During their investigation, Police found surveillance video that contradicted some of the domestic violence statements made by the victim. Warren Sapp was a commentator for the NFL Network but was pulled off TV following this domestic violence arrest in Florida. He will meet with NFL Network officials to assess his future with the station.